AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - January 2012 - 16

AOPAACTION
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AIRPORT ISSUES—Fighting threats every day
STATE AND LOCAL ACTION
1 Arizona

Scottsdale Airport (SDL), Arizona

The City of Scottsdale is considering three residential developments that would bracket its airport. Local pilots and airport supporters are concerned that the developments will have a negative impact on the busy airport,

One development is adjacent to and underneath a highly used reporting point for aircraft arriving at the airport.
even though attorneys for the developer state that the developer is going beyond requirements to ensure that the airport and the developments are compatible. One development is adjacent to and underneath a highly used reporting point for aircraft arriving at the airport. AOPA ASN volunteer Art Rosen voiced opposition to the developments. 2 Arkansas

avenue for a handful of SUPPORTERS VALIANTLY major events each year, supporters of NorwalkCONTINUE TO RAISE Huron County Airport PUBLIC AWARENESS. valiantly continue to raise public awareness of the economic value and community benefit of the airport. Local agriculture depends on the airport as a staging ground for aerial applicators and several local businesses use the airport as a means of increasing their reach and ability to quickly conduct business statewide. 4 North Carolina

Moore County Airport (SOP), North Carolina

Local tenants at Saline County Regional Airport had a bombshell dropped on them when they received new leases for their tenancy. While airport sponsors issuing new leases Several tenants have is nothing new, decided to move. receiving your new lease two days before it’s scheduled to be returned to the airport and including a rental increase might seem like an April Fool’s joke—but it wasn’t. AOPA’s ASN volunteer Bobby Waymire is in the middle of the issue, attending airport commission meetings in an attempt to mitigate local aviation concerns. Several tenants have decided to move to an alternate airport. 3 Ohio

Saline County Regional Airport (SUZ), Arkansas

A former non-hub commercial service airport in North Carolina’s Sandhill region and surrounded by golf courses and communities, Moore County Airport has several challenges. First it is preparing to host the men’s and women’s PGA Tournaments in 2014 and, second, it is fighting a renewed proposal for an apartment complex under the crosswind-to-downwind turn for Runway 23. The adjacent community college supports the apartment complex, and there is a small but fierce opposition to any runway and aircraft parking ramp expansion. The apartment proposal was withdrawn in April but has recently reappeared in a modified but still incompatible form. Recent land purchases necessary to ensure appropriate safety zones are being miscategoTHERE IS A SMALL BUT FIERCE rized as land grabs OPPOSITION TO ANY RUNWAY for expansion under AND AIRCRAFT PARKING RAMP eminent domain. EXPANSION. Local airport supporters are countering the misinformation at various local government meetings and in the media. AOPA has weighed in on the encroachment concerns with a letter to the city council. 5 Ohio

Norwalk-Huron County (5A1), Ohio

A small GA airport in north-central Ohio, Norwalk-Huron County, is struggling for survival in a tough economy and amid competing land interests. With a county commission that is reluctant to spend money on necessary safety and airport improvement projects—even rejecting a donation of matching funds for an FAA grant—and a neighboring drag strip’s annual requests to utilize the runway as an egress

Cincinnati-Blue Ash (ISZ), Ohio

Owned by the city of Cincinnati, Blue Ash Airport sits squarely in the center of the city of Blue Ash. FAA grant assurances expired at the airport years ago, and there has been an ongoing struggle to determine its future viability. Five years ago, Cincinnati sold roughly half of the airport to Blue Ash for use as a city park facility. As part of that deal, Cincinnati agreed (and committed to the aviation

Need information on activities at your local airport? Have an issue you’d like AOPA’s advice on? Want more information on protecting and preserving airports? Contact AOPA at asn@aopa.org or 800-872-2672.

AOPA PILOT •

16 • JANUARY 2012

AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - January 2012

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - January 2012